Minister says TT must be ashamed for "hounding out" Hart

Trinidad and Tobago's Planning Minister told reporters Tuesday Calder Hart was "hounded out of office" and that is something for which the people of the country should be ashamed.

Emily Gaynor Dick-Forde made the defence of the former executive chairman of UDeCOTT during a tea break from the Senate. Hart quit all his posts on Saturday and left the country.

"I think a resignation is part of normal governance, people move on, but I think the circumstances we in Trinidad and Tobago should be very ashamed of what has happened. A person, a human being has been treated very badly by us," she told reporters.

The opposition has called for the minister to resign as well but brushed that aside saying she is not aware of any such calls.

Independent Senator Michael Annisette, who is a member of the UDeCOTT, board also defended Hart. And he denied media reports that he might succeed Hart on several state boards.

Annisette also said he is still not convinced about the authenticity of the documents connecting the Harts to CH construction. He said many documents appear to be genuine until they are exposed as bogus under scrutiny.

"I am simply saying let the process evolve. It is unfair to anybody to make allegations and to make suggestions until there is incontrovertible evidence," he said.

The Senator, who sits on several state boards, said he supports a forensic investigation into UDeCOTT. "I have no cocoa in the sun so I am not afraid," he said.